home.

Happy summer everyone! Just like that I wrapped up my freshman year of college and let me tell ya that was much, much harder than I ever thought it would be. Coming to KU I never imagined that the people I met and the places I went would have such a big impact on my life. And while I am so dang happy to be home for the summer I am also leaving what I had called home for the last 9 months and that got me wondering, what really is home?

I have referred to Lawrence as my home a few times and while it makes my mom sad when I say that, I think home is something different for everyone. For me home has always been Nebraska. (and it always will be, don't worry mom!!) As I've gotten older I have realized that I have many homes and this past year I gained so many more. I don't necessarily think that home is just where you grew up or where you were born or a brick house with a roof. I think home means many things beyond that. Home is your safe place, your cheerful place, and where you feel comfortable. Home is the people you cherish most and who you can be your truest you around. Home is all of the memories you hold close to your heart.

Growing up home has been sitting around the dinner table talking and laughing for hours. It's been my friend Rylie's house. It's been playing trucks and monsters with Remy. It's been late night sonic runs and car talks and many other places I will continue to be able to call home.

This past year I have found even more homes. In my tiny little dorm room, movie nights, jamming out to music while getting ready for the day, making tik toks, racing down the hallway in moving carts, late night talks, and even the dining hall. I have found home at Alpha Chi. I have found home in coffee shops and libraries. Home this past year has even been the ~bermuda triangle~.

I feel so lucky to have so many places and people I get to call home and I can't wait to see where else I will get to be able to call home. As cheesy as the saying, "home is where the heart is" I 100% believe that. You get to choose who and what you call home and I think that is something that is very special.

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"home is not a place, it's a feeling"